Research
New Study Links Medical Cannabis to 40% Opioid Reduction in UK Pain Patients
A real-world study of 850 UK chronic pain patients found 40% reduced their opioid medication significantly after starting medical cannabis treatment. The findings, published in the British Journal of Pain, support growing calls for cannabis to be considered in pain management pathways.
Researchers at King College London analysed outcomes for 850 patients prescribed cannabis for chronic pain across five UK clinics between 2021 and 2023. The study found that 40% achieved a clinically significant reduction in opioid use (defined as 25% or greater), with 12% discontinuing opioids entirely. The research adds to an emerging body of evidence supporting opioid-sparing approaches to pain management.
